Part 1 (2/2)
Still, Bert not being there, they must choose someone else, so Mr. Hollis called for volunteers. Several answered, but their qualifications were rather doubtful, until Bob Ward said that he had had a lot of experience in driving his uncle's machine, and felt very sure he could handle it. So it was decided that the next day Bob should take them on their first trip, which would be in search of a new camp site, the old one proving too small for this year's requirements.
While the question as to who should be chosen to drive the automobile was being decided, Sam Fielding and Philip Strong, two of the younger boys, had placed a long plank over a big rock which rested under the shade of a low-branched tree, and thus improvised a capital see-saw.
When the question was settled, there was a general movement among the boys, and one of them, thoughtless of consequences, jumped upon Sam's end of the board. This added weight gave the other end a sudden jerk upward, and in a twinkling Philip was tossed into the boughs of the tree, where, his foot catching in a forked branch, he hung suspended, head downward, his jacket falling about and covering his head and face, while he yelled like a Comanche Indian.
In an instant the entire camp was aroused and Phil was quickly extricated from his uncomfortable position. At the sight of his astonished face, the whole camp went into paroxysms of mirth, while peal after peal of laughter made the woods echo again. Even Phil, now ”right side up with care,” could not resist the contagion and joined in the merriment.
It was many minutes before a normal condition of things was re-established, but at last the boys fell to discussing the proposed change of camp.
”It's a shame that we have to change,” said Charlie Adams; ”I don't believe we'll have such bully times in the new camp as we have had here.”
”Oh, I don't know,” said Tom cheerily; ”we'll have the dandiest fun, hunting new caves and things.”
”It will at least have the charm of novelty,” joined in d.i.c.k Trent--d.i.c.k was eighteen and sometimes used words and phrases so ponderous as to give him added dignity in the eyes of the other fellows. ”Things will be altogether different this summer,” he went on; ”having the auto will make a great change.”
”Well, we're going to have a great time to-day, anyway,” said Bob Ward; ”Mr. Hollis says we are to make a flying trip in the new machine, and I will have a chance, while the man who brings it is here, to study handling the car.”
As Bob finished speaking, a distant but distinct ”honk-honk” sent each boy tearing down the road, where in due time a great, red, glistening car came up the turnpike like a gleaming streak of light, and, with a graceful curve to the side of the road, stopped. The car, _their_ car, the ”Red Scout” had come!
CHAPTER II
THE FLYING AUTO
A group of the campers stood regarding the big red touring car rather dubiously.
”The fact is,” Bob Ward was saying, as he meditatively chewed a long piece of gra.s.s, ”you never can tell when the fool thing is going to go back on you. I used to drive my uncle's car a good deal, but I never could go very far without some part of the machinery breaking down.
Uncle Jack said I was a Jonah and I guess I was, because he could run the pesky thing all over the country if I wasn't with him, and it would go like a bird. One day I ran it into a fence and nearly got killed, so I took the hint and haven't fooled with one since.”
”But we ought to make a try at locating a site for the new camp,” Frank Edgewood objected. ”We volunteered, and we'll be the laughing stock of the whole camp if we don't succeed, besides breaking our word to Mr.
Hollis.”
”Yes, I don't see why you said you could do it, if you are going to get cold feet at the last minute,” said Jim.
”I haven't got cold feet,” Bob defended hotly, then virtuously, ”it isn't because of my own danger that I hesitate, but I don't like to drag you fellows into it with me.”
”If you don't mind breaking your own neck, you needn't worry about ours,” said Dave Ferris; ”we'll stay here while you take a little spin across country,” grinning wickedly. ”Of course, if you should find a good camp location in the meantime, you could claim all the glory”--this last condescendingly.
Before Bob had time to retort, a cry of ”Bert, Bert Wilson!” caught the boys' attention, and they turned in time to see a young fellow take a flying leap over one of the fences and land in the midst of a group of excited, welcoming friends.
”Make believe we're not glad to see you, Bert. We thought you wouldn't be able to get off this year.”
”Tom Henderson spread that report. Where is he?”
”Wait till I get at him.”
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